Stanley charles cuthbert currie



(No Model.)

S. O. 0. GURRIE.

PROCESS OF OBTAINING INSOLUBLE GHLORIDES BY ELEOTROLYSIS. No. 466,720. Patented Jan, 5, 1892.

5. M $32552? 5 1-: :2? 23511-2??? 9mm 53. Sari-Elli? M 32 1w: nonms PETERS co., wnorwuma, WASHINGTON n c UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED GAS PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT COMPANY, OF SAME PROCESS OF OBTAINING INSOLUBLE CHLORIDES BY ELECTROLYSIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 466,720, dated January 5, 1892. Application filed April 24, 1891. Serial N0.390,292. (No model.) 7

T0 [LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY CHARLES CUTHBERT CURRIE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, but now residing at the cityof Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Producing Insoluble Chlorides Direct from the Metals, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to the manufacture of insoluble chlorides-such as those of lead, silver, and mercury or calomeldirect from the metals lead, silver, and morcury.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, continuous, and expeditious method of electrolytically producing insoluble chloridessuch as those of lead, silver, and mercury (Hg Cl or calo- 1neldirect from the metals lead, silver, and mercury.

In carrying my invention into effect use is made of an electrolytic vase or cell containing a neutral electrolyte, as a neutral solution of chloride of zinc. Any preferred form of electrolytic cell may be employed for this purpose; but for the sake of a further description of my invention I have illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing a central section of an electrolytic cell that has been found practically efficient, and have indicated in writing on said drawing the composition and arrangement of the respective parts in the production of chloride of mercury or calomel by my improved process.

In the drawing, A is a vase or cell.

B is a cup or other preferred form of receptacle, suitably supported in the vase or cell A and adapted to contain mercury. This receptacle B is made of a substance or material that is not in any Way affected by the mercury which it contains, or by the electrolyte, or by the chemical or electrical actions which takeplace in the cell A. The mercury contained in the vessel B is constituted an anode by immersing into it the extremity of a conductor leading from a dynamo or other source of electricity. The metal to be con verted intoan insoluble chloride, as lead, silver, or mercury, is constituted the anode in the electrolytic vase or cell. The cathode of the cell or vase may consist of any suitable substance or material, as lead or zinc. Preference, however, is given to the employment of a zinc cathode. The electrolytic cell is then subjected to the action of an electric current resulting in the decomposition of the electrolyte into its constituent radicals, which in the present instance is into metallic zinc and chlorine. The metallic radical zinc is then deposited at the cathode, and may be subsequently recovered by a reversal of the electric current or in any other preferred manner, and the acid radical-in the present instance chlorine-goes to the anode and unites and chemically combines therewith, forming an insoluble chloride, as mercury or calomel, (Hg Cl chloride of lead, or chloride of silver: This insoluble chloride collects in the electrolytic vase or cell, and may be removed therefrom and Washed for subsequent use.

My invention is distinguishable from the ordinary electrolytic action in the following particulars: In the ordinary electrolysis the acid radical of the electrolyte appears in a gaseous state or condition at the anode if the latter is insoluble in the bath or electrolyte; but if the same is soluble in the bath or electrolyte then the acid radical does notappear as a gas, but the anode is disintegrated, and after being dissolved in the solution is deposited on the cathode. In other words, the anode is gradually transferred to the cathode. In my process the salt formed at the anode-in the present instance insoluble mercurous chloride, chloride of silver, or chloride of lead-is not reduced and deposited at the cathode, but

collects in the vase or cell, from which it may be removed for use. Moreover, according to my invention the operation of converting the anode into an insoluble chloride may be performedin anexceedinglyrapid manner. These improved results-namely, the deposition in the vase or cell of the insoluble chlorides, such as the chlorides of silver, lead, or mercury-are attributable to the employment of a neutral electrolyte, such as a solution of chloride of zinc. In order to reduce the re sistan cc of the electrolyte, there may be mixed with the chloride of zincacertain proportion of chloride of sodium or of chloride of potassium; but, however, in practice preference is given to the employment of chloride of zinc.

My invention therefore comprises the improvement in the art of manufacturing insoluble chlorides-such as those of silver, lead, or of mercuryelectrolytically from mercury, silver, and lead, which consists in employing a neutral electrolyte-such as a solution of chloride of zinc alone or with another material or materials.

My invention further comprises the process of manufacturing insoluble chlorides, such as mercury silver, or lead, which consists in constituting mercury, silver, or lead the anode in an electrolytic cell in a neutral solution of chloride of zincalone or with an added substance or materials, and electrolytically converting the mercury, silver, or lead into their respective insoluble chlorides.

My invention further consists in the improvements in the manufacture of insoluble chlorides direct from the metals in the manner hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In order that the nature and objects of the invention may be more fully understood, a brief description of the process of electrolytically producing calomel direct from metallic mercury will now be given; but it must'be borne in mind that the invention is not confined to the production of calomel.

In practice use is made of an electrolytic cell A, containing a neutral solution, such as chloride of zinc. Mercury is then constituted the anode of the cell by connecting the same with a conductor or placing the same in a suitable receptacle B in connection with the ployment of a zinc cathode.

proper conductor. The cathode of the cell may be of any suitable material or substance; but, however, preference is given to the em- The passing of an electric current through the electrolyte causes a decomposition of the chloride of zinc into zinc and chlorine. The chlorine goes to the anode and uniting with mercury to form mercurous chloride, or calomel, as it is some times called, and the zinc goes to and is de posited upon the cathode. The calomel separates from the anode and is deposited in the vase or cell A, and may be removed therefrom and washed for use. The zinc may be recovered from the cathode and the electrolyte again brought to the neutral condition.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described method of producing insoluble chlorides direct from the met-- als, which consists in constituting the metal or metals to be converted into a chloride or chlorides the anode in an electrolytic cell in a neutral chloride solution, andthen convertin g the metal or metals into an insoluble chloride or chlorides, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The herein-described method of producing insoluble chlorides direct from the metals, which consists in constituting the metal to be converted the anode in an electrolytic cell containing a neutral metallic chloride solution, such as chloride of zinc alone or' with another substance or materials, and then electrolyticallyconverting said metal into an insoluble chloride, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The herein-described method of producing insoluble chlorides, such as the chlorides of silver, lead, and mercury, which consists in constituting the metals to be converted as lead, silver, and mercury the anode in a neutral metallic chloride electrolyte or bath, as chloride of zinc, and electrolytically converting the metals into insoluble chlorides, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STANLEY CHARLES CUTHBERT OURRIE.

\Vitnesses:

THOMAS M. SMITH, HERMANN BORMANN. 

